Parmakis Instruments

Every instrument I make is the result of an internal dialogue; I could simultaneously justify and contradict every choice I've made. Copying the original vs. redesigning, using templates vs. trusting hand and eye for the shape, doing what I did before vs. trying fresh ideas...
I find this especially true with arching and thicknessing. It's very easy to feel like you've gone too far removing more wood then necessary in a particular area, only to take a few shavings somewhere entirely different and find that the area you had previously doubted suddenly reveals itself to have, on balance, ample of wood yet to remove.

This banjo came in for some general setup work including string height adjustment, repairing a crack in the rim and fitting a new tailpiece and tuning pegs. It's always fun to work on something a bit unusual - this banjo has nylon strings and an early 20th century "classic" banjo setup.